Improvisation: Making it up as you go along. A group of players gets on stage without previously rehearsed lines or blocking and acts out. The audience understands that this show is constructed from nothing before their eyes. In these aspects, improvisational performance differentiates itself from any other performance medium. Improvisation then is at its best […]
THE SELF CONTAINED EMOTIONAL STATEMENT How do you start an improv scene? My answer was forged from the perspective of giants' shoulders. Mick Napier, of The Annoyance Theater, says we start with just one thing. - Assume a posture. - Grab an object. - Start a motion. - Engage your environment. - Embody a character. […]
YES, GOOD IMPROVISATION REQUIRES A GROUP. AND, WE AGREE. A great improvisational performance requires both a group and an audience. It’s the collaborative building that makes improvisation exciting. The ability to riff is dependent on having something to riff off of. The definition of riffing demands that there be an “accompaniment” or “exchange.” Sure, a […]
OFFER, SET, CEMENT: THAT'S GAME! Some definitions: Pattern - a sequence that can be repeated / a structure that can be reused Game – a sequence of actions, related by rules of cause-and-effect, that heightens with repetition A rocketship, A thumb and An aardvark. That's a fine pattern. A rocketship, A thumb and An aardvark. […]
TO THE ETHER Games I like Frisbee. I like hacky sack. I like hitting this one stick I wrapped in ribbons with these other two sticks I wrapped in different ribbons. I like the Grateful Dead. I like acoustic guitar around a beach bonfire. I like blowing into this diggerydoo I crafted in the company […]
HELP DESK Two players meet in the middle of the stage and focus on figuring out the scene together. I want to return this vacuum. What’s wrong with it? Or... I want to see a manager. Ma’am, he’s on a break. Or... I bought this and it won’t work. I’m going to need to see […]
HELP DESK HELP YOU Through the progression of a Help Desk game’s dialogues, we heighten the participants’ personal games. Two players swapping opinions on a piece of art can be a pretty funny scene. But, with Help Desk game mechanics, we can heighten personal games to make the characters’ emotional perspective more important than the […]
HEY EVERYBODY! How do you focus a Ten Person game? Step right up. Step right up. I want to ride the roller coaster. You’re too short to ride this ride. See the two-headed boy for two dollars. I’m afraid of clowns. I ate too much cotton candy. Where can I buy beer? I’m on mushrooms. […]
HEY EVERYBODY! START SOMETHING! “Hey Everybody” initiations can lead to some pretty stilted scenes wherein the initiator forces the role of facilitator. If you’ve seen improvisational performance, you’ve seen these scenes. “Ladies and gentlemen, [important person] is ready for your questions.” “I gathered you all here today because...” “Class! Class, pay attention (to me).” Players […]
ALL TOGETHER NOW Using To The Ether mechanics we can build a pattern from a progression of personal games, establishing and heightening a scenic game in the pattern’s evolving repetition. Using Help Desk mechanics, we can establish a pattern out of a scenic game, and repeat that pattern to heighten a personal game or theme. […]